“Italy supports Serbian EU path”

State Secretary at the Italian Foreign Ministry Alfredo Mantica says that Belgrade has conducted big reforms and that Italy supports Serbia’s EU path. “As regards the EU accession obstacles imposed by the Netherlands, I’ll repeat what our Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said—that it is a political issue, not at all a judicial one. We are still waiting,” Mantica told Belgrade daily Politika. “Italy supports Serbian EU path” “We’ll wait to see the report of Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz. In any case, Italy’s unflinching position is that Belgrade has made great progress on its European path and that Serbia should be given full support on its path towards successful integration,” he said. Asked about economic cooperation between the two countries, Mantica reiterated that Italy was Serbia’s leading trade and commercial partner, adding that it would be very difficult to make any kind of forecasts regarding the current financial crisis and future Italian investments. “In any case, Italy’s investments in your economy are of strategic interest and I don’t believe that you will be among the first to feel the impact of the crisis,” the Italian state secretary said. Talking about liberalization of the visa regime, he stressed that the European Union had given clear guidelines to Serbia. “However, Serbia’s is rather taking its time there, though it is something that we understand. You had the elections, forming the new government … Some conditions have been met, so we believe and we can say that Serbia has taken great strides forward,” Mantica said.

“Italy supports Serbian EU path”

“We’ll wait to see the report of Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz. In any case, Italy’s unflinching position is that Belgrade has made great progress on its European path and that Serbia should be given full support on its path towards successful integration,” he said.

Asked about economic cooperation between the two countries, Mantica reiterated that Italy was Serbia’s leading trade and commercial partner, adding that it would be very difficult to make any kind of forecasts regarding the current financial crisis and future Italian investments.

“In any case, Italy’s investments in your economy are of strategic interest and I don’t believe that you will be among the first to feel the impact of the crisis,” the Italian state secretary said.

Talking about liberalization of the visa regime, he stressed that the European Union had given clear guidelines to Serbia.

“However, Serbia’s is rather taking its time there, though it is something that we understand. You had the elections, forming the new government … Some conditions have been met, so we believe and we can say that Serbia has taken great strides forward,” Mantica said.